asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the amount and proportion of total rent arrears recorded for each authority in England and Wales attributable to delayed payments from his Department.

I regret that the information requested is not available, but I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Construction to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Staffordshire (Mr. Heddle) on 10 December at columns 188–189 .